Tompkins County officials say the county is staring down a potential $11 million budget deficit next year.
County officials say health care, public safety and infrastructure costs have risen. There’s also more demand for social services, housing assistance and mental health support.
At the same time, officials said federal and state funding cuts have had a significant impact on the county.
“Tompkins County has kept its annual property tax levy increase to an average of less than 1.2 percent over the past 4 years,” Tompkins County Legislative Chair Dan Klein said in a statement. “However, the reality of increasingly complex problems, inflation, and the impending federal cutbacks is catching up to us. This is a very difficult budget year.”
Klein also told WHCU Radio that the county’s 2024 expenses exceeded revenue by about $2 million in 2024, impacting finances for 2025 and 2026.
Filling that deficit while maintaining services would require an over 20 percent increase in the tax levy, according to calculations presented at the legislature’s 2026 Budget Retreat.
Tompkins County’s initial budget proposal will be presented in September. The final budget should be passed in November.